Palazzo Widmann (in German Palais Widmann), also known as Palazzo provinciale 1 (Landhaus 1), is a noble palace in Bolzano, since 1955 the seat of the provincial government.
What to see
The palace was built in Neo-Renaissance style for the von Widmann-Staffelfeld zu Ulmburg family by the city architect Sebastian Altmann, between 1882 and 1885, with its entrance on the west side, from the present via Laurin. In 1899 Altmann's son-in-law, the architect Johann Bittner, saw to the addition of the balcony on the west façade and an extension at the back, in the style of the Viennese Ringstraße.
In 1929 it was chosen as the seat of the prefecture and of the administration of the Province of Bolzano, created only in 1927, and to this end it was enlarged, extending the building on the east side. In September 1943 it was damaged by a bombing; at the end of the Second World War it was repaired and since 1955 it has housed the offices of the provincial government.
Visiting
Since it houses the provincial government's offices, the palace is not a museum: the sources consulted give no public openings, so access to the interior should be checked. From outside the west façade and the balcony on via Laurin can be seen.
Our editors' tip
Look at the balcony of the west façade: it is the work of Johann Bittner, who added it in 1899 to the palace designed by his father-in-law Sebastian Altmann, the same city architect as the Tudor-style manor beside Torre Druso.
